Today’s Prompt is: What are your core values and how do they influence your writing?
Introduction
All through school and college, I was an A and B student. Which meant I’ve valued education for as long as I can remember. I loved learning and helping other people to learn as well.
Defining Core Values
Me being an advocate for education (a nerd), most of the decisions I make are well thought out. I think about how what I do will not only affect my life but the lives of those around me. This is not to say that I’m perfect and I do everything right, I have my “stupid” moments but thankfully the older I get I have developed the skills to fix my “stupid”. I don’t care what Ron White says, stupid doesn’t have to last forever.
Since I learned how to fix myself I can help others fix themselves. Call me the Iyanla Vanzant of writing. “Let me fix your life.”
Exploration of Personal Core Values
When I was young, I loved spending time with older people. I felt like the more gray hair that they had the more you could learn from them whether they had a Bible in their hand or a beer. I ran across a few that could preach like an old southern Baptist minister once they had downed a few drinks.
I guess you can say they were my mentors. I had learned to network before I even knew what that was.
I’d go to the store for them or help them clean their living room. And although they never gave me more than a few dollars, what I learned from just listening to them talk was so much more valuable to me.
Influence on Writing
I try not to never just put out content that has no purpose or value. Even when I’m trying to be funny, there’s always a lesson to be learned under the surface. My dad says you can learn something from a fool, and although I don’t consider myself as foolish, I have foolish moments.
But for the most part I think that’s part of my personality so I can get and hold people’s attention. Nobody wants to just read or listen to something boring, no matter how smart they have been promised to be by the end.
Applied Knowledge is Real Power
I don’t claim to know everything, but I know a little bit about most things. I can have a conversation with just about anyone about almost anything. That’s a skill I learned from all of the people I have been around. I acquired knowledge from all of the books I’ve read as well as the movies and videos I’ve watched.
To be a good writer, you have to learn to study the world around you. Everyone hasn’t had the same experiences that you have so they may not know what the heck you’re going on about. You have to know how to get your point across and sometimes that requires you to tell stories. If you have no stories from your life, you have to borrow from someone else’s life.
Conclusion
The journey of self-discovery through the lens of core values shapes your writing. My commitment to education and empathy influences every word I craft, infusing purpose and depth into my content. Through mentors and life experiences, I’ve cultivated a rich tapestry of knowledge, enabling me to engage diverse audiences with meaningful narratives.
Writing isn’t merely about conveying information; it’s about connecting hearts and minds, leaving a lasting impact. As I continue to navigate the world, I’ll hold fast to these core values, for they are not just guiding principles but the very essence of my writing journey—a journey fueled by curiosity, empathy, and the relentless pursuit of wisdom.